Chambers is a bloated Netflix dud that is unworthy of Uma Thurman

Indiewire

The supernatural horror series starring Thurman and Tony Goldwyn is a reminiscent of another slow-moving, bloated and boring Netflix series starring an Oscar-nominated actress -- Naomi Watts' Gypsy. That's according to Indiewire's Ben Travers, who says Chambers "wastes a few talented performers as well as a great opportunity to blend naturalistic storytelling and a supernatural story by dragging things out way beyond their means. Worse still, it doesn’t commit to being fun, serious, pulpy, crazy, or otherwise engrossing — it plays things safe, even when it wants you to think it’s daring." Travers adds: Chambers is the kind of show that feels like someone came up with the ending first and then worked backward to flesh out 10 hours of buildup. That method can work, but not when no one knows what kind of show they’re making. At first, it feels like Chambers wants to be a straight-up horror drama, but the series takes too long to get to anything spooky and then proves uninterested in actually frightening anyone. OK, so maybe it’s just a supernatural drama, eager to explore the living’s connection with the other side, or even earnestly acknowledging oft-ignored belief systems of indigenous Americans. But… no, that’s another missed opportunity, as Chambers keeps its characters’ heritage at arm’s length until it’s needed to justify some later twists."

ALSO:

• Chambers is not the first series in this overstuffed TV era to be both unnecessary and pretentious, but it's one of the worst offenders
• Chambers doesn’t know how to make anyone the least bit interesting -- and it botches its gruesomeness and suspense
• Chambers is a gorgeous show that quickly becomes repetitive and boring
• Uma Thurman and Tony Goldwyn are stranded in a story that goes nowhere fast, a show reliant on cheap scares with nothing behind them
• Thurman gives a devastatingly good performance, but she feels out of place on Chambers
• Chambers does offer the pulpy pleasures with its mystical conspiracy, and its ambition is admirable
• Chambers becomes interesting if you stick with it through the end of 10 episodes
• Chambers uses horror storytelling to tackle class privilege
• Creator Leah Rachel explains how she landed Uma Thurman